Interventional MR surgical table

ABSTRACT

There is described method and apparatus for supporting a patient&#39;s body in a MR scanner, including supporting it to rotate about its longitudincal axis and cant about a point on the longitudinal axis. Also provided are method and apparatus for supporting a patient&#39;s head and neck and using a surgical head-holder. Yet another embodiment of the invention provides method and apparatus for attaching first and second stirrups to a member supporting the patient. According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides for keeping two or more different members for supporting a patient&#39;s body during a medical procedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner, wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patient support functionality, selecting one of the different members for use in a medical procedure, positioning a patient&#39;s body on the selected member, and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the member is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of medicine,and more particularly to MR scanning equipment and its use in medicalprocedures.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Since its development in the early 1980s, magnetic resonance (MR)imaging has become the dominant form in imaging of the central nervoussystems and is continuing to grow in its uses in musculoskeletal andbody imaging. It offers unprecedented abilities in visualization of thehuman body. Over the past few years, MR imaging has been investigated asa tool for use in association with therapy, so-called interventional MRimaging or MR-guided therapy. To accomplish this, various new scannerdesigns have been developed to permit surgical access to patients whileinside the scanners. This has resulted in both more open MR scanners andnew surgical tools that can be operated safely within the MRenvironment. Initially, new designs of the interventional MR suites havebeen required in order to permit surgical procedures in the MRenvironment. However, these designs have been first efforts and have notbeen optimized for both surgical procedures and clinical scanning.Specifically, new MR tables have been required with combined MR andsurgical capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] As described in more detail herein below, the present inventionprovides method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on anelongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate memberhaving a longitudinal axis, positioning the member inside a bore of a MRscanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside thebore, and rotating the member about its longitudinal axis while themember is inside the bore, so that the patient's body is rotated aboutthe body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MR scanner.

[0004] Also provided are method and apparatus for supporting a patient'sbody on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, theelongate member having a longitudinal axis and a recess on one endsubstantially underneath the patient's head and neck and including asurgical head-holder supporting the patient's head above or within therecess and positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so thatat least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore.

[0005] The invention further provides method and apparatus forsupporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantiallyplanar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis,positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least aportion of the patient's body is inside the bore, and canting the memberabout a point along its longitudinal axis while the member is inside thebore, so that the head or feet of a patient may be raised or loweredwith respect to one another while in the bore of the MR scanner.

[0006] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there isprovided method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on anelongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate memberhaving a longitudinal axis, positioning the member inside a bore of a MRscanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside thebore, and attaching first and second stirrups to the elongate member onone end and putting the feet of the patient in the stirrups.

[0007] According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides forkeeping two or more different members for supporting a patient's bodyduring a medical procedure conducted in conjuction with an MR scanner,wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore ofthe MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patientsupport functionality, selecting one of the different members for use ina medical procedure, positioning a patient's body on the selectedmember, and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the memberis disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates an MR scanne of a type useful with the methodand apparatus of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a method and apparatusaccording to the present invention wherein a patient's body is rotatedabout its longitudinal axis.

[0010]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a method and apparatusaccording to the present invention wherein a patient's head ispositioned using a surgical head-holder.

[0011]FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method andapparatus according to the present invention wherein a patient's body iscanted about a point along its longitudinal axis.

[0012]FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method andapparatus according to the present invention wherein stirrups areattached to the elongate member on one end.

[0013]FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method andapparatus according to the present invention wherein two or moredifferent members are provided and kept for supporting a patient's bodyduring a medical procedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner.

[0014]FIG. 7 illustrates a modification to an existing scanner design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the following detailed description of the invention referenceis made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and inwhich is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in whichthe invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describesubstantially similar components throughout the several views. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilizedand structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in simplified forman example embodiment of a MR scanner 10 of the kind the methods andapparatus of the present invention can be used with. Scanner 10 has abore 12 within which a patient is supported on a surface of member 20and MR scans of the patient's body may be performed. Various exampleembodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention aredescribed below.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a first embodimentof a method and apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingto this embodiment, a patient's body 24 is supported on the elongatemember 20 with a substantially planar surface, with the elongate memberhaving a longitudinal axis 22. The member 20 is positioned inside thebore 12 of MR scanner 10 so that at least a portion of the patient'sbody is inside the bore. The member 20 is rotated about its longitudinalaxis while the member is inside the bore, so that the patient's body isrotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MRscanner. According to one embodiment, the member is supported in thebore on a mechanism (not shown) that supports the member for rotationabout the longitudinal axis. Such support may be provided on the edgesof the member 20 or along one or more points across the center. Further,the member 20 is freely detachable from the mechanism and removable fromthe bore, for example onto a wheeled gurney.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a second embodimentof a method and apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingto this embodiment a patient's body 34 is supported on an elongatemember 30 with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member 30having a longitudinal axis and a recess 32 on one end substantiallyunderneath a patient's head and neck when lying on the table, andincluding a surgical head-holder 34 supporting the patient's head aboveor within the recess. The member is positioned inside a bore of a MRscanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside thebore. The member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removablefrom the bore.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated yet anotherembodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention.A patient's body is supported on an elongate member 40 with asubstantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinalaxis 42. The member 40 is positioned inside a bore 12 of a MR scanner sothat at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore. Themember is canted about a point 46 along its longitudinal axis while themember 40 is inside the bore, so that the head or feet of a patient maybe raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the bore ofthe MR scanner. According to one example embodiment, the member issupported in the bore on a mechanism that supports the member forcanting. The member may be canted using a hydraulically drivencomponent. Further, according to one embodiment, the member is freelydetachable from the mechanism and removable from the bore.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated yet another embodimentof a method and apparatus according to the present invention. Apatient's body is supported on an elongate member 50 with asubstantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinalaxis. The member is positioned inside a bore of a MR scanner so that atleast a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore when supportedon the member. First and second stirrups 52 are attached with a quickconnect/disconnect mechanism to the elongate member on one end andputting the feet of the patient in the stirrups. According to oneexample embodiment, the member is freely detachable from the mechanismand removed from the bore.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated yet another embodimentof a method and apparatus according to the present invention. Two ormore different members 61 (inserted in bore 12) and 62 (not in use) areprovided and kept for supporting a patient's body during a medicalprocedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner, wherein eachmember is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MRscanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patientsupport functionality. One of the different members is selected for usein a medical procedure. The patient's body is positioned on the selectedmember, and the member is engaged with the MR scanner such that themember is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

[0022] According to yet another example embodiment illustrated in FIG.7, the present invention provides a modification to the Philips XXXXbrand MR scanner 70. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment of theinvention provides for removing the factory apparatus disposed in thelower half of the bore underneath the surface supporting the patient. Inits place, the present invention, according to one embodiment, providesa mechanism 72 to rotate and cant a member 74 providing a supportsurface for the patient.

[0023] Thus, the various embodiments of the invention as describedherein provide for supporting patients in MR scanners for the purpose ofMR imaging and performance of medical procedures in conjunction with MRscanning.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's bodyon an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongatemember having a longitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a boreof a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body isinside the bore; and rotating the member about its longitudinal axiswhile the member is inside the bore, so that the patient's body isrotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MRscanner.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the member issupported in the bore on a mechanism that supports the member forrotation about the longitudinal axis.
 3. The method according to claim 2wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removedfrom the bore.
 4. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's body onan elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongatemember having a longitudinal axis and a recess on one end substantiallyunderneath the patient's head and neck and including a surgicalhead-holder supporting the patient's head above or within the recess;and positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that atleast a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4 wherein the member is freely detachable from themechanism and removed from the bore.
 6. A method, comprising: supportinga patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planarsurface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; positioning themember inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of thepatient's body is inside the bore; and canting the member about a pointalong its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so thatthe head or feet of a patient may be raised or lowered with respect toone another while in the bore of the MR scanner.
 7. The method accordingto claim 6 wherein the member is supported in the bore on a mechanismthat supports the member for canting.
 8. The method according to claim 7further including canting the member using a hydraulically drivencomponent.
 9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the member isfreely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.
 10. Amethod, comprising: supporting a patient's body on an elongate memberwith a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having alongitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scannerso that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; andattaching first and second stirrups to the elongate member on one endand putting the feet of the patient in the stirrups.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10 wherein the member is freely detachable from themechanism and removed from the bore.
 12. A method, comprising: keepingtwo or more different members for supporting a patient's body during amedical procedure conducted in conjuction with an MR scanner, whereineach member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MRscanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patientsupport functionality; selecting one of the different members for use ina medical procedure; positioning a patient's body on the selectedmember; and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the memberis disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.
 13. Apparatus,comprising: an elongate member with a substantially planar surfacesupporting a patient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinalaxis; a mechanism inside a bore of a MR scanner adapted to support androtate the the member about its longitudinal axis, so that the patient'sbody is rotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore ofthe MR scanner.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the memberis freely detachable from the mechanism.
 15. Apparatus, comprising: anelongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting apatient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis and arecess on one end substantially underneath the patient's head and neckand including a surgical head-holder supporting the patient's head aboveor within the recess; and the elongate member supported at least in partwithin a bore of a MR scanner.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removedfrom the bore.
 17. Apparatus, comprising: an elongate member with asubstantially planar surface supporting a patient's body, the elongatemember having a longitudinal axis; the member positioned inside a boreof a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body isinside the bore; and a mechanism adapted to cant the member about apoint along its longitudinal axis, so that the head or feet of a patientmay be raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the boreof the MR scanner.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 further includinga hydraulically driven component adapted to drive the mechanism. 19.Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the member is freely detachablefrom the mechanism and removed from the bore.
 20. Apparatus, comprising:an elongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting apatient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis;positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least aportion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and first and secondstirrups attached to the elongate member on one end.
 21. Apparatusaccording to claim 20 wherein the member is freely detachable from themechanism and removed from the bore.